Nightly Grooming Routine

You Should Have A Nightly Grooming Routine - Here's Why

Logic would have us believe that grooming is a morning activity, a daily ritual designed to make men more presentable — attractive, even — when viewed in broad daylight. But what if the real payoff to grooming was gained overnight, when nobody was looking? An evening routine is a critical part of preserving your looks at a cellular level.

We understand. The last thing you want to do when you roll in at the end of a long day is spend time immersing yourself in an evening skincare ritual. But hear us out. Sleep isn’t just an opportunity to switch your mind off; it offers every last cell, tissue and muscle an opportunity to detoxify and regenerate in a way that is near impossible during waking hours. In short, beauty sleep is a real, quantifiable thing.

It would be wise, therefore, to capitalize on the potential of cell regeneration during the night by taking five minutes to use a decent overnight treatment before you hit the sack. In fact, your skin will be far more receptive to an active skin care product during the wee hours since it is relieved of the pressure of having to fight off environmental aggressors like pollution, stress and UV damage.

This is doubly important if you’re scrimping on shuteye to make it through a hectic work / family / social schedule and have to wake up at the crack of dawn (though we’d always recommend cramming in more time in bed — research shows that a good snooze wards off everything from heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression).

And yes, there are dedicated products for nighttime use — they tend to be richer in texture, higher in active ingredients and lower in protective ingredients (that built-in sunscreen is not much use if you sleep in the dark). Many of them will be marketed as anti-ageing products since it is poor cell turnover, among other things, that contributes to visible signs of aging.

A good product should support the natural regeneration and detoxification process while replenishing vitamins and minerals that have been lost during the day. And as an added bonus, you get to wake up looking hydrated and refreshed — even if you feel like a train wreck on the inside.

We’ve rounded up the best overnight elixirs below.

Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturizer by CLINIQUE

Supports the cell turnover process while boosting moisture levels for hydrated skin by morning. If you’re really parched, get the Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask and just leave it on while you sleep. $47.88 at Amazon.com

Advanced Night Repair by ESTEE LAUDER

The holy grail of overnight products, this miraculous serum has been marketed to women for years — but, if you can get over the packaging and / or shopping experience, there’s really no reason why a guy can’t use it. A fantastic anti-ageing formula for those looking to erase signs of wear and tear.$82.99 at Amazon.com